Machine for molding and cutting butter and the like.



R. E. GEARHART L E. E. LLOYD. NACNTNE FOR MLDTNG AND CUTTING BUTTER ANDTHE UKE. APPLICATION FILE-D APR.Z9. |916.

1,285,979 TNTTNTNN Nm. 2N, NNN.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

dnd

R. E. GEARHA'RI & E. E. LLOYD.

MACHINE FOR IVIOL'DING AND CUTTING DUTTER AND THE LIKE. APPLICATIONFILED APILZI IJl.

1,285,597 9. lumlml Nm'. 2u, 191s.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Momo/mf RE. G-e Lr/7152125 awww IT.. E. GEARHRT 6L E. E. LLOYD.

MACHINE FOR MOLDING AND CUTTING BUTTER AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APILZS. ISIS.

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

5mm/144.50m

R. E. GEARHART L E'. E. LLOYD. MACHINE FoRMoLQlNG AND CUUING Bumm/LNDTHE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29. |916.

1,285,979. lutntod Nov. 2G, i918.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ROY E. GEAR/HMT AND ELDGN E. LLOYD, OF MARYVLLE, MISSOURI. `ASSIGNORSS0F ONE-FOURTH T0 LUTHER E. FORSYTHE, ONE-FOURTH T0 SAMUEL G, GrIliliA'M,AND ONZE-FOURTH TO JOHN Z. CURMUTT, ALL OF MARYVILLE, MXSSOURI, .ANDONE- l'GURTI-I TO SAD LLOYD.

' MACHINE FOR IVIOLDING AND CUTTING BUTTER AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov., M5, 15H8.

Application filed April 29, 1916. Serial No. 94,365.

To all wlw/m, t may concern.'

Be it known that we,RoY E. GEAR'HART and ELDON E. LLOYD, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Maryville, in the county of Nodaway and Stateof Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMachines for Molding and Cutting Butter and the like, of which thefollowing is a full and exact speciiieation.

This invention relates to machines for use in molding and cutting butterand like material, and has for its principal object t0 provide animproved machine for producing individualbutter molds of the charactercommonly served in restaurants, hotels or other public eating places.

To this end a machine has been devised which is adapted to rapidly andneatly cut such molds from a mass ot' butter and imprint a pattern ordesign thereon ot' any desired form.

it is also sought to provide a machine of such constructi .i as to cutthe desired molds from the body or mass of butter regardless of the'formin which this is supplied to the machine. s

lt is a further object of the invention to construct and arrange themachine to mold and stamp the butter While it is still an integral mass,and thereafter to effect-a feeding of the molded and stamped portionprior to severing; the same from the remaining portion of the material.

A further proposed object is the provision of an improved cutting`mechanism acting to cnt and deliver the butterA molds with their stamped'faces uppermost on coming to rest after delivery.

y itis also an object to provide a machine ofcomparatively simpleconstruction for effectively carrying out the purposes of the invention.

The invention will now be described With reference to the accompanyingdrawings illustrating` one form of embodiment of the improvements whichhas been devised `for fulfilling the objects of the invention, afterwhich those Afeatures and combinations deemed to be novel will be setforth and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings-- Figure l is a rear vievv of the machine in' elevationawith a portion of the butter container partially broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the ope ating wheel omittedand its shaft in sect-ion;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section ou the line lH-IH of Fig, l, but showingthe knife and die carrier in retracted position;

Fig. 4L is a similar section on the line iV--V ot Fig. l but shown on alarger scale, omitting,` the butter container and representing certainparts as broken away and others in section;

. Fig. is a vertical section on the line VNV oi Fig. 4; l

Fig. isa detail elevation of the operative relation of the imite and diecarrier to the lower end of the butter container, looking in theopposite direction 'from Fig. 5, the dotted lines representingalternative posi tions of the parts;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the lower end of y the butter container showingthe type of valve used;

Fig. 8 is a. section on the line VH-V of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 .is a. fragmentary detail of one of the carrier connections.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the frame work of the machinecomprises a casting;- of channel section having' the yoke portion Q oiinverted-U shape. one branch of which is connected at its lower and b vmeans of a horizontal arm -lto thesulmortinv' upright (S having thebracket arm S and clamping screw l0 whereby the 'framework o'l themachine is adapted to be secured to a table or other support 1&2 inworking position. The lower end ol the yoke. portion 2 of the l'rame isspanned b v a plate. li seeured in place, b v the fixed bolts 1G andthumb-nuts A18. This plate 1l acts as a support for the butter containeror receptacle 20 of any desired 'forni of cross-section. a cylinderbeing shown. and the same provided with a bottom opening` havingrthemarginal flange suitably tapped to receive the externally threaded moldblock 2l ha ving a mold passage 26 forming the feed outlet from thereceptacle 20. `This detachable mold block construction is provided inorder that the machine may be adapted lto mold the material. in variousforms of crosssection, the passage 26 vbeing herein illustrated as ofcylindrical form. Said passage is provided with a valve 28 (see' Figs. 7and 8) pivoted at 30 to the receptacle 20 and formed with a lip portion32 adapted y-for latching engagement with the hook 847 when the valve isclosed, as is the case when compressing the butter within the receptacleor container prior to feeding the butter through said passage or feedoutlet.

The mechanism for feeding` the butter ,comprises a plunger 36 atthelower end of a feed` screw 38 which operates through anut 40journaled within the top of the yoke 2 and secured. by a set screw 42 tothe hub of a feed wheel 4 4. This wheel 44 is formed with a circularrack 46 with which engages a pawl 48 carried by the upper end of theoscillatory lever 50 pivotally mounted at 52 upon the yoke 2 in such amanner that the lever 50 swings by gravity in its inoperative movements.These gravity-actuated movements of the leverv 50 are limited by a stopplate 54 adjustably secured to the lever by means of the bolt 56and'slot 58, said plate "having a stop lug 60 adapted to engage the 'inghandle 72.

yoke 2. Obviously the adjustment of the plate 54 serves also to vary theoperative stroke of the lever .50, which in turn regulates the degree-of turn of the feed screw 38 and hence the amount of butter fed foreach feeding operation.

rlfhe lower end of the lever 50 extends in position to be actuated by aroller 62 mounted on one face of a flange 64 formed on one end of thehub 66 of the fly wheel v68 mounted on a shaft 70 supported from theyoke 2 and provided with a suitable operatvThis roller 62 is alsoVdesigned to intermittently engage and actuatc the angular arm 74 whereby'movement is imparted to the cutting and die-stamping mechanismwhich-comprises'- the following construction.

The arm 74 is pivotally connected at 76 to the knife and die carryingframe- 7 8, said arm 74 being also proidded with a lug 80 operatingbetween a pair of stop lugs 82, 83 (see Fig. 9), arranged on thehorizontal arm 4 of the framework, and suiicientclearance provided forbetween said lugs 82, 88 and the yoke 2 to accommodate the necessaryhorizontal swinging movement of the arm 74, as represented by the dottedlines in Fig. 9. The carrier 78 is pivotally mounted upon the verticalfixed rod 84 carried by the upi right 6 and fitted with a coil spring 86whereby the carrier 78 is held normally in retracted or ino erativeposition, with the lug 80 of the arm 4in engagement with the stopnascere llug 88 in Fig. Referring more particularly to Figs. 8 to 6,these illustrate a die block 88 having a sui-table design of stampingdie 90 adapted to be projected within the mouth of the mold passage 26.This block 88 is removably mounted within a holder 92 where it isclamped by the set screw 94 (see Fig. Said holder is formed with aninclined slot 96 for engagement with a roller'98 mounted on the frame ofthe carrier 78, so that during relative movement between said holder andcarrier the former will be projected in a vertical direction. An arm 100extends rearwardly from the holder 92 and is provided with i"`slots 102(see Fig. 4)

for detachable engagement with theheaded pins 104- projecting up fromthe 'carrier frame. Said arm 100 is also formed with a depending lug 106having a bolt opening 108 (see Fig. 5) formed for rocking,` engagementwith one end of the bolt 110, the other end of which is slidinglymounted in an opening 112 formed in a lug 114 projecting down from thecarrier frame 78. This bolt d10 is equipped with a. nut 116 betweenwhich and said lug` 114 a spring 118 is coiled about the bolt, wherebysaid holder 92 is yieldingly actuated in a forward direction to bringsaid roller 98 at the rear end of the inclined slot 96 so that theholder, whenever elevated is under a constant tendency to spring backinto lowered position. The arm 100 is also provided intermediate theslots 102 with an plate 14, whereby further advance of thel holder 92 isprevented and the same subjected to the action of theroller 98.

The carrier 78 also supports the cutting device which comprises a yokeor approximately IU-shaped frame 124'pivotally mounted at 126 upon'thecarrier 78, and carrying, in advance of the die 90, a knife blade 128.The knife frame 124 is held normally elevated by a spring 180 secured tothe carrier frame 78 and bearingg` upward against said frame 124. rlhuswhen the knife frame is elevated, as illustrated in. Fig. 5, the knifetraverses a path directly across the mouth of the passage 26 forsevering any portion of the butter -which has been fed therethrough.Means is provided for lowering the knife blade out of its cutting path.for clearing the space about the feed. outlet as the knife is retraced,said means comprising a skeleton rocker arm 134 pivoted to the carrierat 135 and providing' an operative edge having the recesses 136 and 138,which edge is adapted to lhave cooperative engagement with a pin 140-onthe knife frame 124 movement, the arm 134 is brought into engagementwith a tripping lug 142 depending from the plate 14, thereby rockingsaid arm 134 and causing the pin 140 to ride down into the recess 136and lowering the knife carrying frame as indicated b y the dotted linesFig. 6. The knife carrying frame is held in this position during theentire return movement of the carrier 7 8 to the positionprepresented inFig. 3, whereupon the roeker arm 134 is engaged by the tripping member144 and re-rocked into original position and the spring 130 therebyallowed to lift the knife frame back into its cutting path.

Following out the course of operation of the machine, butter orlikematerial desired to be operated upon is placed in the receptacle 20, thevalve 28 of which has been closed, and the receptacle then placed inposition beneath the plunger 36. The feed wheel 44 is rotated rapidly byhand to initially press the butter into compact form within thereceptacle, after which the valve 28 is opened preparatory to moldingand cutting. Turning the wheel 68 operates the roller 62 to actuate thearm 74, thereby swinging the carrier 78.forward. The lug 120 of the dieholder 92 is engaged by the stop lug 122 and said holder stopped withthe die 9() opposite the mouth of the mold passage 26, and continuedmovement of the carrier elevates the die by the action of the roller 98,projecting said die within the mouth of the passage 26 and stamping thelower face of the butter therein. At the same time the arm 134 has beenrocked by engagement with the lug 142, resulting in the lowering of theknife frame 124 so that the knife l blade 128 is moved out of itscutting path to clear the portion of the butter which will be fed outthrough the passage 26 during the return movement of the carrier. Thisfe'eding movement is effected by engagement, of the roller 62 with thelower arm of the loyer 50, thereby actuating' the pawl 48 and feed screw38 adistanee depending upon the position to which the plate 54 has beenadjusted. The return of the carrier to initial position is effected bythe action of its spring 86 immediately upon disengagement of the roller62 from the arm 74, at which instant also the disengagement of lugs 120and permits the quick-mating spring 118 to retract the die from themouth of the mold passage 26. Upon reaching initial vor inoperativeposition, the knife blade is again raised into its cutting path by thespring 130, due to the tripping of the arm 134 bly the tripping member144; hence upon the next succeeding advance movement of the carrier, theknife blade sweeps across the mouth of the' mold passage and severs theportion of butter which has just been fed therethrough. It .will benoted that said X knife blade is so positioned with relation to its pathof movement as to effect a shearing action at the .point of cutting,thus severing the molded and stamped portion of the butter neatly andeffectively.

A special function also served by the downward deiection of the knifeblade from its cutting path, imaddition to the purpose of providing fortheI knifes clearing the butter as it is fed out from the mold passage.This additional function is the inverting of the butter pats as they aresevered by the knife so that they are allowed to fall with their stampedfaces uppermost. The oily consistency of the butter is found to cause itto have a sufficient clinging tendency to adhere to the knife blade fora brief interval, and the described vibralory movement which is impartedto the latter immediately after the cutting action operates to free thesevered butter pats and at the same time cause them to fall in in-`verted position. This is an advantage in that the stamped faces of thebutter pats are not likely to be marred by this mode of delivery. Anysuitable receiving platter or the like may be drawn beneath themechanism for receiving the butter molds as delivered,-no such rpceivingmeans being shown since the same forms no part of the invention.

It will be apparent that a compact and efficient arrangen'ient and-construction have been devised for carrying out the desired objects ofthe invention. Obviously no special form of b'uttcr mass or mold isrequired to be placed in the receptacle 20, as snall and large masses,irregularly shaped or otherwise, may alike be placed therein to beoperated. upon, the feeding action being the same in all cases andrequiring only'that the material be placed beneath the plunger, whichthereupon acts 'to compact the same into a uniform mass and feed thesame evenly through the mold passage. Iljhe arrangement dispenses withany separate molding action independent of that taking place at the feedoutlet, and the essential operative movements and parts foraccomplishing the desired results are reduced to practically a minimum.

XVhilev the foregoing represents what is now deemed to constitute thepreferred form of embodiment of the invention, the right is reserved toall such formal changesv and modifications as may fairly fall within thescope of the appended claims.

Claims 1. A machine of the c-lass described comprising a receptacle forholding plastic material and having a discharge opening, means forintermittently feeding the n'iaterial out through said dischargeopening, a knife mounted for reeiprocatory movement across the mouth ofsaid opening, means for actu-v ating the knife to sever the material fedthrough said opening after each feeding movement, and means acting, atthe conclusion of each severing operation, to impart a quick vibratorymovement to the knife at right angles tothe direction of its cuttingmovement for causing the severed material to be inverted as it dropsfrom the knife.

2. A machine of the class described comprising a receptacle for holdingplastic material. and having a dischai ge opening, means forintermittently feeding the material out through said discharge opening,a knife vmounted for reciprocatory movement across the mouth of saidopening, said knife being mounted diagonally with reference to thedirection of its movement for producing a drawscut upon the material tobe severed, and means for actuating said knife to sever the material fedthrough said discharge opening after each feeding movement.

3. A machine for molding and4 cutting butter or the like, comprising abutter receptacle rovided with a molding outlet, a die move-lilo bodilyin a path approximately parallel to the plane of the mouth of saidoutlet into and out of operative position, means for feeding the butterthrough said outlet, means for moving said die through said path intooperative position opposite the mouth of said outlet and thereafteractuating said die in the direction of said outlet to stamp the buttertherein, and means for severing the stamped portion of the butter aftereach feeding operation.

4f. ln a machine for molding and cutting butter or the like, thecombination of a butter receptacle provided with a molding outlet, a dieand a knife movable in unison transversely of said outlet, means forfeeding the butter through said outlet, means for transversely movingsaid die and knife and actuating thc die in the direction of the outletto stamp the butter when opposite the mouth of said outlet, and meansacting to shift saidknife out of its cutting path during the feedingoperation.

5. In a machine for molding and cutting butter or the like, thecombination of a butter receptacle provided With a molding outlet, meansfor feeding the butter through said outlet, a die and knife movable `inunison transversely of said outlet with the knife in advance of the die,means for transversely moving said die and knife to etlect cutting ofthe previously fed butter and position said die opposite the mouth. ofsaid outlet, and means acting while said die is opposite saidV outlet tocause the same to stamp the butter at the mouth of the outlet.

6. In a machine for molding and cutting butter or the like, thecombination of a hutter receptacle provided with a. molding outlet, adie'provided with means for actua the same to stamp the butter at themouth nasser@ of said outlet, means for feeding the butter through saidoutlet, Aa knife movable transversely across the mouth of the outlet,means for actuating said knife after eachv feeding operation, and meansacting at the conclusi'on of each cutting operation to impart a quickvibratory movement to the knife in a direction at right angles to theplane of theV a die and a knife mounted in advance of said die, meansfor transversely moving said carrierto cause said knife to cut thepreviously fed butter, and means acting at one limit of the carriersmovement to cause said die to stamp the butter at the mouth of saidoutlet and simultaneously deflect said knife from its cutting path.

S. ln a machine for molding and cutting butter or the like, thecombination of a but ter receptacle provided with a molding outlet,means for intermittently feeding the butter through said outlet, acarrier movable transversely of said outlet and provided With a die andwith a knife mounted in advance of said die', means for transverselymoving y said carrier to cause said knife to cut the previously fedbutter, means acting at onel limit of the carriers movement to causesaid die to stamp the butter at the mouth of said outlet andsimultaneously deflect said knife from its cutting path, and meansacting automatically to .restore said knife to its cutting path as saidcarrier reaches theopposite limit ofits movement.

9. ln a machine for molding and cutting l butter or the like, thecombination of a but- 'ter receptacle provided with a molding outlet,

means for intermittently feeding the butter through said outlet, acarrier movable transverselylof said outlet, a die mounted on saidcarrier, means for transversely moving the carrier for positioning thedie opposite said outlet at one limit 'of the carriers movement, moa-nsfor projecting` the die into the mouth of said outlet- When opposite thesame, and moans acting to retract said die from the outlet prior to thereturn movement ofthe carrier. v

l10. ln a machine for molding and cutting butter or the like` thecombination of a butter receptacle provided with a` molding `outlet,means for intermittently feeding the butter through said outlet, acarrier `movable transversely of said outlet and provided with a die andwith a knife mounted in advance of said die, means for transverselymoving said carrier to cause said knife to cut the previously fedbutter, and means acting at one limit of the earriers Imovement toproject said die into said outlet and ret 'uct the die therefrom priorto the return movement of the carrier while simultaneously deflectingsaid knife from its cutting pnth.

11. In iL machine of the character described, the combination with :Lbutter recep taole provided with a feed outlet, of means for feeding thebutter through seid outlet, :i knife movable transversely across themonth of said outlet, means for actuating said knife after each feedingoperation, and means noting to impart a. sharp vibratory movement tosaid knife in :i direction :it right angles to the plane of its cuttingmoveineiit for causing the severed material to be inverted as it dropsvfrom the knife.

12. A machine for molding and cutting butter, comprising' :i butterreceptacle pro# vided with :i bottom discharge opening, means forfeeding the butter through said opening, a carrier pivoted forhorizontal swinging movement across the mouth of seid discharge opening,:i die mounted on seid carrier,l a knife carried by said carrier iniidvanee of said die, means for swinging said carrier to niove seidknife :ieross said opening after each feeding operation and toY bringsaid die into operativi position oppo I site said opening, and .inem-nsoperating to proJect said die into seid opening when Yin operativeposition.

ROY E. eniieiiiinf'i. nid/non n. LLOYD.

